The age-old desire to celebrate the birth of a child is alive and well this year. Here are some of the trends and a few old favorites to get your creative juices flowing as you plan the next happy welcoming party.
Themes and Décor
The Bring-a-Book Shower - Each guest brings a book for baby, inscribed with a message for both baby and parent(s). Build baby’s library.
Sprinkles and Rainbow Confetti - Liberally use confetti in balloons, sprinkles on cupcakes and frosted cookies, and even on the rims of the guests’ drink glasses.
Bumblebees and Honey - Brighten up your table and the entire room with black and yellow. Personalized honey jars with baby’s name go home with each guest. The room will be buzzin’!
Pickles and Ice Cream - Your guests may have to have a good sense of humor for this one, but you can find ways to make this theme both fun and appetizing.
Animals - Yes, children love animals, so choose your favorite: Elephants, monkeys, giraffes, teddy bears, or frogs. Find books with animal characters, decorate with stuffed animals, use the motif on the refreshment table and in the games. Fun!
Book Themes - Choose the Velveteen Rabbit, Corduroy or Paddington Bear, or Pat the Bunny. Use illustrations from the book to decorate and a copy of the book on the refreshment table. Create take-home favors with quotes from the book.
Boy and Girl Stuff - Might be easiest to go gender neutral and choose the circus, the wild west, ocean beaches, or the jungle, for example.
Refreshments
Momosas, also known as preggatinis, are a big hit with guests. Serve non-alcoholic juices with an assortment of chopped fruits for the glasses. They’re beautiful and yummy.
Waffle buffet with fresh, crisp waffles, honey butter, fruit toppings, and whipped cream.
Bagel buffet with toasted bagels, cream cheese, cheeses, ham or turkey slices or nut butters.
Cupcakes decorated and arranged into a baby theme such as a stroller, an animal, a balloon, or a book.
Fresh fruit kabobs on skewers. Use unusual fruits such as kiwi, mango chunks, fresh berries. Provide a lemon yogurt-whipped cream dip.
English tea items including scones with Devonshire cream, tiny sandwiches, fresh fruit, and brewed cups of tea.
Take-Home Favors
Mini-plants such as succulents potted individually and ready to take home and ‘watch them grow.’
Bagged popcorn or caramel corn finished with a decal saying: ‘Ready to Pop.’
Baby rattle Oreo pops bagged and personalized with the baby’s name.
Bottles of champagne. Label with these instructions: ‘When baby is born, pop the cork and toast our joy.’
Bottles of nail polish with the label: ‘Cheers to 10 little fingers and 10 little toes.’
Games and Crafts
Painted Onesies - Buy white onesies and craft paints. Use stencils to sponge paint cute pictures for baby.
What’s in Your Purse - Make a list of the usual purse items plus some unique and curious ones. See who has the most interesting handbag.
Create a baby’s first year scrapbook to gift to the parent(s)-to-be - Provide scrapbooking materials and let the guests create a one-of-a-kind gift.
Pre-print 26 sturdy alphabet pages and art supplies - Allow guests to illustrate baby’s first alphabet book.
Play a trivia game from children’s literature - Create a fill-in-the-blank sheet using well-known children’s books such as Dr. Seuss, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Curious George, and the like.
As you plan the baby shower, select a theme first and then let the rest of the event fall into place. You’ll have as much fun planning and creating the event as your guests will when they arrive!
Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and reading specialist. She is the author of Homegrown Readers and Homegrown Family Fun. Find her at janpierce.net.
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